According to reports, Florida is preparing to build a second immigration detention center.

CBS News reports that public records indicate at least one contract for what’s labeled as “North Detention Facility.”

“The Florida Department of Emergency Management, the state agency in charge of the South Florida Detention Facility in the Everglades, is purchasing a WeatherSTEM and two lightning sirens for the facility, according to a state contract, for $39,490,” Tallahassee Democrat stated.

CBS News has more:

The site would add to the capacity at the state’s first detention facility, built at an isolated airfield in the Florida Everglades and dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.” Already, state officials have inked more than $245 million in contracts for that facility, which officially opened July 1.

Florida plans to build a second detention center at a Florida National Guard training center called Camp Blanding, about 27 miles (43 kilometers) southwest of downtown Jacksonville, though DeSantis has said the state is waiting for federal officials to ramp up deportations from the South Florida facility before building out the Camp Blanding site.

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“We look forward to the increased cadence,” of deportations, DeSantis said last month, calling the state “ready, willing and able” to expand its operations.

The announcement of a second planned immigration detention center in Florida follows Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem revealing “The Speedway Slammer” in Indiana.

“The Speedway Slammer” – DHS Secretary Kristi Noem Announces New Detention Facility

Tallahassee Democrat provided additional details:

On Aug. 1, DeSantis said the federal government has deported over 600 people from the South Florida Detention Facility, but there still weren't concrete plans to open a second detention facility, which officials have stated will be at Camp Blanding in Clay County.

"If it's not leading to real significant cadence in removals, then I'm going to wait," DeSantis said. "Now, I have confidence that it will, and I think it will eventually, and once that happens, then we'll go, and Kevin Guthrie is ready." Guthrie is the director of FDEM.

The state has received criticism from immigration advocates, Democrats and environmentalists for housing immigrants in the Everglades during hurricane season, as the tents used for detainees can only withstand up to a Category 2 hurricane.

"I've taken a little bit of heat in the media that the EM (emergency management) guy is not taking care of hurricane season," said Guthrie, at a press conference on July 25. "That is absolutely, unequivocally false." And Guthrie has said the state will evacuate if there is a storm above a Category 2.

"I promise you that the hurricane guys got the hurricane stuff covered," Guthrie said.

The Camp Blanding plans have also drawn fire. Last month, hundreds gathered to protest outside what is expected to become the state's second detention center. According to First Coast News, some people were seen holding up signs reading, "ICE = racism in a uniform," "We need FEMA not death camps," "No to deportations" and "Ron DeSantis, we are watching!"

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